HEALTHYLIFEFALL

Gifts to promote physical activity

Making New Year’s resolutions is a popular tradition once the holiday season has come and gone. Such resolutions often serve as catalysts for something positive, whether it’s sav- ing more money in the year ahead or spending more time with family. Resolving to lose weight is one of the more popular resolutions men and women make each year. But you don’t need to wait until the calendar turns to January to start helping a loved one achieve his or her goal of losing weight in the new year. If a friend or family member has expressed a desire to slim down in the new year, the following items can make great holiday gifts that help your loved ones get a head start on their weight loss goals.

them in their first few sessions if you’re already familiar with yoga. · Swimming lessons: Many people learn to swim as children, but a refresher course can help loved ones who have not dipped their toes in any water in recent years. Such lessons also may ignite (or reignite) a passion for swim- ming, which is a wonderful exercise that can promote weight loss and car- diovascular health while helping men and women develop toned muscles. Find a local swim club or gym that of- fers lessons, and go along for the first few lessons to help calm any nerves your loved one might have. · Healthy cookbook: Effective, long- term weight loss requires both diet and exercise. A cookbook full of healthy recipes can prove an invalu- able resource for men and women who recognize the role healthy foods play in losing weight and keeping the weight off. Many adults cite a lack of time as the primary reason they eat unhealthy foods, so look for a cookbook that of- fers healthy recipes that can be cooked up quick. · Fitness tracker: Fitness trackers come in many shapes and sizes, but many al- low users to count their steps and track the distances they travel in a typical day. More advanced models may even help men and women track the amount of calories they’ve consumed, both on a daily basis and over time. Such devices can prove motivational to men and women looking to lose weight, pro- viding detailed daily information they can use to track and see their progress. Holiday gifts that aim to help men and women looking to lose weight can pay dividends long after the holiday season has come and gone. 

· Yoga mat and DVD: Yoga has grown increasingly popular in recent years. According to a survey from the Na- tional Institutes of Health, nearly 10 percent of adults in the United States participated in yoga in 2012, up from 5 percent in 2002. Yoga is a great way to relieve stress and get in shape, and it can help men and women feel more flexible. That increased flexibility can help men and women looking to lose weight, making a yoga mat and DVD an ideal holiday gift. Such gifts are even better for men and women who may feel intimidated by exercising after a long layoff, as they can dust off the cobwebs from the comforts of their own homes. Offer to come over and show them some basic moves and help

16 - Healthy Life I Fall/Winter 2015-2016